A Birmingham delivery cyclist using a council-funded scheme e-bike had the legally registered bike seized and crushed by police during an inspection.
Officers acted after citing a lack of current insurance paperwork, despite the rider had already passed a previous valid test for the same documents.
The rider’s bike was part of a city-supported hire program, but it was destroyed in what the cyclist described as a "unjustified" inspection.
Police later acknowledged the seizure was an error because of incorrect paperwork being shown on the day.
The incident has raised concerns among local delivery workers about the security of council‑run e‑bike schemes.
Advocacy groups have called for clearer guidelines and better communication to avoid similar incidents.
The council has said it will review its procedures and work with police to make sure future inspections are fair.
Meanwhile, the cyclist now deals with the loss of a valuable vehicle.